1
as in trapping
to catch or hold as if in a net
a young idealist who got caught up in the political fanaticism of the times
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
completely caught up in opera ever since he saw La Traviata
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in interesting
to hold the attention of
so caught up in the game that she didn't note the passage of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in informing
to give information to
catch me up on what's been happening at the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching up
Even later in their careers, student loan holders aren't catching up.
—
Annie Nova, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
This distinction is important, and the market is still in the process of catching up.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But the compensation models are still catching up.
—John Acunto, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
The federal government is gradually catching up on economic reports that were postponed by the shutdown.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Sports as a kid catching up with me.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Uber will have some catching up to do in San Francisco, the city where it’s based.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Democratic New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is narrowly in the lead in the New Jersey gubernatorial race but her Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli is catching up, according to a poll.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The system is still catching up to the fact that preventative care is in fact necessary now.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
Annie Nova, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
This distinction is important, and the market is still in the process of catching up.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But the compensation models are still catching up.
—John Acunto, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
The federal government is gradually catching up on economic reports that were postponed by the shutdown.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Sports as a kid catching up with me.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Uber will have some catching up to do in San Francisco, the city where it’s based.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Democratic New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is narrowly in the lead in the New Jersey gubernatorial race but her Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli is catching up, according to a poll.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The system is still catching up to the fact that preventative care is in fact necessary now.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching up
Verb
-
Once wed, Heathcliff immediately turns abusive, killing her dog by hanging it from a tree and trapping her at Wuthering Heights.—
Becky Little,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The project would capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and sequester it underground in North Dakota, to capitalize on federal tax credits incentivizing the prevention of heat-trapping emissions into the atmosphere.—
Meghan O'Brien,
States Newsroom,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the morning, Escobar shared a series of tweets informing the public of the airlift status.—
Robbie Farias,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Applicants will receive a letter in the mail before the end of March informing them whether or not they have been approved, according to the email.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lightweight fabrics tumble more evenly, reducing the chance of tangling.—
Anyssa Roberts,
The Spruce,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This will help prevent tangling and stretching during the wash cycle.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tucked at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe’s remarkable high desert landscapes and enchanting golden light feel almost otherworldly.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
-
At times, partners may have had a special mystique, enchanting you with their powers that may have sucked you in — for the better — or instead, like an addiction.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
-
New York has intriguing young outfielders in Jasson Domínguez and Spencer jones, but Bellinger was the team's second best player in the lineup this season.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Chinese government reacted by telling Chinese citizens not to travel to Japan, threatening economic retaliation, and pulling the plug on meetings that were long planned, putting a pretty deep freeze on China-Japan relations.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
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After initially telling students and staff to stay indoors, Arlington ISD is now saying that folks are safe to go outside.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But Haiti failed to hold general elections on Saturday as envisioned a couple of years ago, with gang violence gripping much of the capital and swaths of land in the country's central region.—
EVENS SANON,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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Debris and sheet metal panels rained down from a Con Edison facility rooftop Saturday afternoon amid high winds in the current Arctic chill gripping the city, FDNY said.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catching up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching%20up. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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